Swimming cap with rigid dome



March 31, 1970 I. MARKS SWIMMING CAP WITH RIGID DOME Filed July 10, 1968 Lil/ Ian Marks INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,503,076 SWIMMING CAP WITH RIGID DOME Lillian I. Marks, 301 Palmetto St., West Palm Beach, Fla. 33405 Filed July 10, 1968, Ser. No. 743,795 Int. Cl. A42b N12 US. Cl. 268 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An article of headwear in the form of a swimming cap having a rigid dome to resist Water pressure with a seal around the bottom periphery thereof engaging peripherally of the head of the wearer to protect the coiffure of the wearer from the damaging effect of water and also preventing damaging effects caused by crushing the coiffure which occurs when using conventional flexible swimming caps.

Presently available swimming caps are constructed of resilient flexible material with a peripheral sea] at the bottom edge of the crown covering portion to exclude water. However, the flexible resilient crown or dome portion does not provide protection from the damaging effect of water pressure which pressures the coiifure of the wearer. This is especially objectionable when the wearer has a bouffant hairstyle or is wearing a hairpiece, wiglet or the like.

Accordingly, the present invention has for one of its important objects, the provision of a swim hat constructed with a rigid dome of adequate configuration, shape and size to accommodate a boulfant hair-do, hair piece, wiglet or the like so that the hairstyle of the wearer will not be disturbed by the crushing effect of the water engaging the exterior of the swim hat. Combined with the rigid dome structure is a peripheral seal at the lower edge thereof for sealing the head area of the wearer to prevent entry of water between the swim hat and the head of the wearer.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a swim hat constructed of rigid material with a chin stra and ear covering flap connected therewith to effectively retain the swim hat in position.

Still another very important object of the present invention is to provide a swim hat constructed of rigid material such as molded foam plastic or the like which will incorporate a bouyancy safety factor which is especially important when employed by children. In addition, the rigid construction of the dome provides a further safety factor against injury occurring when the head accidentally comes into contact with underwater obstructions or the like which sometimes occurs when diving, swimming under water or when swimming in water which may have unknown obstacles, debris or the like.

Yet another feature of the present invention is to provide a swim hat which is easily adjusted to the head, is simple in construction, easy to apply and remove and quite attractive in appearance.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the swim hat of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan view of the swim hat illustrating the chin strap and ear flap construction;

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FIGURE 4 is a fragmental enlarged sectional view illustrating the peripheral seal structure at the lower edge of the dome;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the swim hat; and

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the swim hat.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the swim hat of the present invention is generally designated by the numeral 10 and includes a rigid dome 12 which is constructed of a relatively hard, lightweight plastic such as Styrofoam molded into a configuration approximating a derby and provided with a peak or apex 14 and a peripheral rib 16 at the lower edge thereof which merges forwardly into a brim or visor 18 which extends downwardly and outwardly in a flared manner to approximate the shape and configuration of a derby such as worn by jockeys with the visors serving to protect the eyes from glare or the like and also serves as further protection for the head. As illustrated, the dome 12 is disposed in slightly spaced relationship to the hairdo 20 on the head 22 of the wearer, with the visor being disposed above the eyes 26. The rigid construction of the dome 12 protects the hairdo, such as a bouffant hairstyle, hairpiece, wiglet or the like from the crushing effect of the water thus allowing the hairdo to remain undisturbed.

The lower inner edge surface of the dome 12 is provided with a peripheral strip of material 28 having a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs or ridges 30 thereon which may be hollow or of any suitable configuration for effectively sealing the dome 12 to the head 22 of the wearer to preclude entry of water into the interior of the dome 12 thus protecting the hairdo 20 from the damaging effect of water coming into contact therewith. Thus, the hairdo 20 is retained dry and retained free of any crushing effect of the water when swimming under water, diving or otherwise engaged in various swimming activities.

Also integral with the strip 28 is a pair of depending ear covering flaps 32 which are disposed in overlying relation to the ears 34 of the wearer to prevent enery of water into the ears. The ear flaps 32 are interconnected by a chin strap 36 of relatively narrow construction which extends under the chin 38 of the wearer for retaining the swim hat 10 in position on the head of the wearer. As illustrated, the chin strap 36 and ear flaps 32 are of integral resilient construction and the ear flaps 32 are integral with the peripheral strip 28 which may be bonded to the interior surface of the dome 12 in any suitable manner. If desired, an adjustment buckle may be provided in the chin strap 36 and the chin strap may be constructed with detachable connectors interconnecting free ends thereof such as a snap button assembly to enable the chin strap to be disconnected if desired. However, by constructing the device of unitary construction, and of resilient construction the device may be easily placed on the head and the chin strap 36 stretched and placed in position without requiring the manipulation of fastener devices such as buckles, snap fastener elements and the like.

The inner band or headband 28 may be cemented or otherwise bonded to the plastic helmet or dome 12 and may be constructed of rubber or plastic material. The ear flaps may be attached to or integral with the forehead band 28 and may also be constructed of rubber or plastic material with the chin strap 36 being an integral part of the ear flaps and constructed of rubber or resilient material and provided with a buckle or snap fastener element or be of continuous one-piece construction as illustrated. Thus, this device not only provides watertight protection for the hairdo but also protects buotfant hairstyles, hairpieces, wiglets or the like and will also provide buoyancy for the head area of the swimmer in view of the lightweight con- 3 struction of the dome 12 which also, of course, is watertight and forms a buoyant float-type member.

FIGURE illustrates another embodiment of the invention in which the swim hat is gene-rally designated by numeral 40 and includes a rigid lightweight dome 42 having a peripheral rib 44 continuously about the lower edge thereof. This construction also is somewhat in the nature of a derby except that the brim 18 illustrated in FIGURES 1-4 has been omitted and the rib 44 is continuous peripherally of the lower edge of the dome 42. The same watertight seal is provided at the lower edge of the dome and ear flaps 46 and a chin strap 48 are provided in the same manner as the embodiment illustrated in FIG- URES 1-4. This will provide protection for the boulfant hairstyle from crushing and from water entry and also serves a buoyant safety member for increased buoyancy of the head area'of the wearer. This construction enables increased vision in view of the absence of the visor 18 but does not afford protection to the eye and nose area of the wearer. This type of construction is preferable where the wearer desires upward vision, such as when executing dives and the like while at the same time providing protection for the hairdo, hail-piece, wiglet or the like.

FIGURE 6 illustrates another embodiment of the invention generally designated by the numeral 50 which also includes a rigid dome or helmet 52 of hard, lightweight molded plastic such as Styrofoam having a downwardly extending flange or edge portion 54 at the lower edge thereof which receives the forehead band and seal strip that is provided with the peripheral sealing ribs on the inner surface. This construction also includes the ear flaps 56 and chin strap 58 attached thereto for use in the same manner as in the other embodiments of the invention. This construction also provides for protection for the hairdo from crushing and entry of water and also provides buoyancy for the head area of the swimmer and serves as a safety device in the event of contact with underwater obstruction or the like and also enables increased vision for the wearer inasmuch as the wearer may look upwardly in relation to the swim hat without obstruction.

Each embodiment of the invention includes a rigid dome constructed of hard, molded, lightweight plastic such as monocellular foam plastic. Styrofoam has been employed for the construction of the dome with the shape and configuration thereof to receive the hairdo, hairpiece, wiglet or the like without crushing thereof and without disarray. The sealing band and the serrated ribs thereon serve to provide a multiple ring seal with the periphery of the head below the hairline in the front and below the major portion of the hairdo especially when a boulfant hairstyle is employed. The ear flaps and chin strap provide retention for the dome and protection for the ears thus retaining the swim hat in position. The material from which the dome is constructed is 'buoyant and will provide additional buoyancy to the head area of the wearer which is especially useful when the swim hat is worn by children or swimmers that may encounter difficulty thus enabling them to more safely engage in swimming or related water sports. Also, the dome constructed of rigid mate-rial provides an added safety factor against possible injury due to engagement with underwater objects, obstructions or the like. This is especially desirable when engaged in water sports such as waterskiing, surfin g or the like when injuries sometimes are caused by engagement with underwater obstructions, debris or the like therein at relatively high speed.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A swim hat comprising a dome of generally semispherical configuration and having a substantially straight lower edge disposed in a generally horizontal plane around the head of a wearer thus defining an entrance receiving the hairdo of a wearer with the dome in spaced relation thereto for accommodating a boulfant hairstyle or the like, means at the lower peripheral inner edge of the dome for sealing engagement with the periphery of a head of a wearer along the forehead, above the ears and above the nape of the neck to prevent entry of water into the space between the dome and the head of the wearer, and means disposed solely at opposite sides of the lower edge of the dome and extending over the ears and under the chin for retaining it in position on the head of a wearer, said dome being of rigid construction to prevent disarray of the hairdo by crushing such as normally occurs when wearing a flexible resilient swimming cap, said dome being constructed of lightweight plastic material having a buoyancy factor to increase the buoyancy area of the head of the wearer with the rigid construction of the dome protecting the head from injury when engaging underwater obstructions and the like, said means retaining the dome in place on the head of a wearer including a pair of ear flap panels extending downwardly from side portions only of the dome, and a chin strap extending from the ear flaps for engaging under the chin of a wearer, said seal means including a peripheral band mounted on the interior surface of the dome in watertight relation thereto, said band including a plurality of peripheral ribs on the inner surface thereof for engaging the peripheral surfaces of the head at a plurality of continuous lines to provide a multiple seal to exclude water from the area between the head of the wearer and the interior of the dome.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the lower edge of the dome is provided with a peripheral rib projecting outwardly continuously peripherally thereof.

3. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said dome includes a depending flange at the lower edge thereof depending continuously peripherally therefrom.

4. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the lower edge of said dome includes a forwardly and downwardly inclined visor integral with the forward edge portion thereof to provide protection for the eye and nose area of the wearer.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,666,098 4/1928 Kaul 2-68 1,926,937 9/1933 De Wet 2-68 2,869,133 1/1959 Garbellano 2-68 2,870,445 1/ 1959 Fisher 23 3,019,444 2/1962 Pollack et al. 2-68 3,108,283 10/ 1963 Gasaway 2-68 3,274,612 9/ 1966 Merriam 2-68 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 848,011 9/ 1960 Great Britain.

H. HAMPTON HUNTER, Primary Examiner 

